Grain drier for combine harvesters



Jan. 9, 1951 c. E. EVERETT GRAIN DRIER FOR COMBINE HARVESTERS Filed July17, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet l V INVENTOR. (HA/245s A". [vs/e277- 14 TTOENE YJan. 9, 1951 c. E. EVERETT GRAIN DRIER FOR COMBINE HARVESTERS 4Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 17, 1946 INVENTOR. (HA/e455 E A t EEE 77- BYJan. 9, 1951 c, EVERETT 2,537,186

GRAIN DRIERFOR COMBINE HARVES'I'ERS Fild July 17, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 3iTTae/wsy C. E. EVERETT GRAIN DRIER FOR COMBINE HARVESTERS Jan. 9, 19514 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 17, 1946 H6 6 INVENTOR.

CWAE4$ f. fewer-7- atented Jan. 9, 1951 ,sam

GRAIN DRIER FOR COMBINE HARVESTERS Charles E. Everett, Racine, Wis.,assignor to The Massey-Harris Company, Racine, Wis., a company ofMaryland Application July 17, 1946, Serial No. 684,302

8 Claims. (Cl. 34-180) from the engine is preferably used in the first atwo stage principle and wherein the exhaust stage, and outside air isused in the second stage,

for taking up any remaining moisture on the surface of the kernels andfor reducing the temperature of the gran to atmospheric temperature.

When grain is combine harvested, particularly wheat, it frequentlycontains too much moisture for safe immediate storage. By the use of myinvention, regardless of the weather conditions, wheat may generally beharvested and stored any time after it is ripe.

The present invention may also be used on animal drawn harvesterswherein, if necessary, a burner for supplying heat to the first stagedryer is used.

An object of the present invention is to keep the kernels of grain insuspension during the entire time they pass through the device and tocause each kernel to travel a considerable distance during th s time. Itis estimated that practically every kernel of grain wi l make at leastten or fifteen circles in passing through each stage. Thus the distancetraveled by the kernels in passing through both stages may be many timesthe length of the sta es, the time element also being an importantfactor.

An object of the present invention is to provide means whereby if thecomb ne and stirring device of the dryer is stopped without stopping theengine, the exha st from the engine may be discharged from the pipeleading to the dryer into the atmosphere by means of a manually orautomatically o erated outlet valve, thus to prevent scorching thekernels remaining in the dryer.

Furthermore when artificial heat is unnecessary this valve may be set topermit all of the exhaust to escape.

Gen ra ly stat d the princi al object of my invention is to provide anartificial grain dryer which is simple, effic ent, compact and easilymanufactured at low cost.

I accomplish the above enumerated results by novel agitators. novelarrangement of screens around the a itators, novel means for circulatingthe heated va or thro gh the first sta e and nov l means to move outsi eair through the second stage. In addition to dehydrating the grain Iprovide novel means for separating weed seeds from the grain as thegrain passes through the first stage.

It will be understood that I prefer to use exhaust heat from the engine,when heat is necessary. I may however use artificial heat in the form ofan oil burner when exhaust gas is not available.

To these and other useful ends my invention consists of parts,combination of parts or their equivalents and mode of operation ashereinafter described and claimed and shown in the accompanying drawingsin which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the first stage of my device.

Fig. 2 is a top view of the device illustrating the first and secondstage members of my device.

Fig. 3 is a front end elevational view of the device as shown in Figures1 and 2.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view of the screen used in the secondstage unit.

Fig. 5 is an elevational view of the exhaust or heated vapor bypassvalve located in the exhaust pipe leading to the first stage.

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic front end drawing of the two stages andillustrating the gathering troughs, but not including the blower fan andits inlets.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on line 1-1 of Figure 2.

Fig. 8 is an end sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 1.

In my device the grain is first agitated and held partially insuspension as it passes through the number one stage which in itsentirety is designated by reference character A. The maior drying inthis stage is done preferably by artificial heat. The second stage isdesignated by reference character B. The grain after passing throu h thefirst stage is delivered to the rear end of the second stage and agitatd and held in suspension as it passes forward through this stage and iscompletely dehydrated b outside air which is drawn into the rear end ofthe second stage and then passes into the blower fan C.

Members A and B consist of two cylinders 2 and 3 and outer cvlinders 4and 5 which are eld to cylinders 2 and 3 by annular rings 6-6, thusforming annular chambers! and 8. The front end of cylinder 2 has aclosure 9 and the rear end a closure 10. Both ends of cvlinder 3 alsohave cosures Ill. The housin s thus fo med are placed side bv side, theend closures having rotatably mounted thereon shafts l2 and H! which areconcentric with cylinders 2 and 3. These shafts each have V belt pulleysl4 and I5 secured to their protruding front ends by means of which theshafts are turned anti-clockwise when viewed from the front as indicatedby arrows in Figure 3.

The front end closure 8 of housing A has an opening I! which ispreferably adapted to receive the exhaust gases from the engine orartificially heated air. An inlet I8 is preferably provided in member 9and is supplied with a gate valve (not shown) by means of which more orless outside air may be admitted into cylinder 2. A grain inlet I9 isprovided in the front end of cylinder 2 (see Figures 3 and 6).

Cylinders 2 and 3 between rings 6 are preferably formed into screens 20providing openings 2| in cylinder 3 as shown in Figure 4, which is asection on line 4--4 in Figure 2. The screen in cylinder 2 is adapted toprevent the grain from passing therethrough but allow weed seed and thelike to do so; and the screen in cylinder 3 is adapted to permit grainto pass outwardly therethrough and permit outside air to passtherethrough and into the cylinder as will hereinafter appear.

On the front end of shaft l2 and terminating as at 25 I provide a worm24. The object of this worm is to start the material moving rearwardly.On the rear end of shaft 12 I secure a hub 28 having a number ofperipherally spaced ejector blades 21 (see Figures 2 and 6) for apurpose which will hereinafter appear.

Between ejector blades 21 and worm 24 I mount a number of longitudinallyspaced blades 28. These blades terminate at their outer ends near screen20 and have a suitable angle and shape so the grain will be caused tomove rearwardly partially in suspension and in a spiral path; this isaccomplished by fanlike blades which are preferably sightly curvedrearwardly at their ends so as to partially counteract centrifugalforce. The weed seed passes through screen 20 to an outlet trough 30having an auger conveyor 3| which moves this seed, dirt etc., to anoutlet 32. A duct 35 forms a connection between the rear end ofcylinders 2 and 3. The duct is in line with blades 21 which impells thegrain through this duct and into cylinder 3. An opening 36 forms anoutside air inlet to the rear end of cylinder 3. A trough 33 is adaptedto receive the dehydrated grain from cylinder 3, and having an augerconveyer 3| which moves the grain rearwardly and discharges it in anoutlet M. I

On the rear end of shaft l3 and within screen 20 I provide a short augerconveyer 40 adapted to start the grain forward. Another number of blades28 are secured to shaft l3 which extend from member 40 to the front endof screen 20 and will act to whirl the grain forwardly and spirally insuspension.

Trough 33 has an inlet 4| from the front end of cylinder 3, whereby whenthe machine is in operation blades 28 will move the grain forward whichfinally passes into trough 33 through trough inlet 4|. Fan C has aninlet duct 32 from member 3. Thus the dehydrated grain will bedischarged into the trough and to outlet 34 from whence it may beconveyed to a tank or sacking platform as is the custom on combines. FanC is conventional and preferably driven by a V belt puley and has anoutlet 45.

Vapor is conveyed from the rear end of cylinder 2 into the fan throughduct 46 having'a gate valve 41 so the volume of air and exhaust gasesmay be regulated' Valve 41 may be adjusted so no air is drawn intocylinder 2 through opening it. However if this valve is wide open,considerable outside air may enter this opening.

Thus it will be seen by scrutinizing the various figures that heated airor exhaust will enter the front end of cylinder 2 and that outside airwill be drawn into the rear end of cylinder 3 and that the grain andheated air or exhaust or outside air will be caused to move spirallythrough both cylinders.

Clearly with the two dehydrating stages, one operating largely becauseof the heated air or exhaust and a second stage using outside air, themachine will operate efficiently because of the long path traveled bythe grain in suspension; and furthermore the outside air in the secondstage will tend to reduce the temperature of the grain to atmospherictemperature.

Referring now to Figure 5, a valve housing 50 is provided, having a pipe5| for connection to inlet I! in cylinder2 and a similar pipe (notshown) is adapted to receive the exhaust from an engine or an artificialoutside air heater, the valve having an outlet 52. A gate valve 53 ishinged in the upper end of opening 52 as at 54 and having a lever 55connected to this hinge whereby the valve may be opened or closed eitherautomatically or mechanically. The valve is shown in an open position bydotted lines and in a closed position by reference numeral 53'. Thuswhen the outlet of the valve is closed the exhaust will go direct toinlet I1 and when the valve is moved to the position shown by theposition 53', the exhaust will be discharged into the atmosphere. Meansmay also be provided for adjusting the valve to various positions.

I do not wish to be limited to any particular design of screenespecially the screen used in cylinder 2. Clearly many minor detailchanges may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention as recited in the appended claims.

Iclaim:

l. A grain dryer for combine harvesters comprising, first and secondcircular in cross section cylinders in parallel relation, an air and aheated vapor inlet in the front end of the first cylinder, a majorportion of said cylinders in the rear being formed into screens, othercylinders surrounding the screen portions of said first and secondcylinders, a grain inlet at the front end of said first cylinder, agrain outlet in the bottom of the other cylinder of said secondcylinder, a duct forming a connection between the rear ends of saidfirst and second cylinders, an outside air inlet in the rear end of saidsecond other cylinder, a fan having an inlet from the front end of saidsecond cylinder, a tube connection from the rear end of said firstcylinder to the front end of said second cylinder, shafts concentricallyand rotatably mounted in said first and second cylinders and means fordriving the same, impelling blades on the rear end of the shaft of saidfirst cylinder adapted to impel the grain from the first cylinder intothe second cylinder through said duct, fan blades mounted on the firstcylinder shaft extending forward from said impeller blades to the frontend of the adjacent screen and adapted to stir and move the graincircularly and rearwardly in partial suspension, blades mounted on theshaft of said second cylinder and adjacent the screen thereof, andadapted to stir and move the grain circularly forwardly, said firstcylinder screen adapted to permit weed seed and the like to passtherethrough and into its other cylinder, the screen in said secondcylinder adapted to permit air to pass from its other cylinder throughthe screen and into said second cylinder and adapted to permit the grainto pass outwardly through said second cylinder screen, a blower fanhaving a suction connection from the forward end of said secondcylinder, whereby the grain may pass through said first cylinder andthen partially through the second cylinder and be dehydrated by theaction of air and vapor passing through the cylinders.

2. A device as recited in claim 1 including, a valve in said ductleading from the rear end of said first cylinder to the blower fan,having adjustable means. whereby the volume of the air and vapor passingtherethrough may be regulated.

3. A device as recited in claim 1 including, the blades in said firstcylinder terminating at the forward end of the screen, a spiral conveyorsecured to the shaft of said first cylinder and positioned between theend thereof and the front end of the stirring blades and adapted tostart the entering grain rearwardly.

4. A device as recited in claim 1 including, the blades on the shaft ofsaid second cylinder terminating a short distance from the rear endthereof, a spiral conveyor secured to the second cylinder shaft andfilling the space between said blades and the rear end of the cylinderand adapted to move the entering grain forwardly into the blades.

5. A grain dehydrator of the character dethe inlet end of the firstcylinder and forming an annular chamber, the part of said first cylindersurrounded by said third cylinder including a screen adapted to permitweed seed and the like to pass therethrough, a fourth cylindersurrounding said second cylinder, one end terminating a short distancefrom the outlet end of said second cylinder and forming an annularchamber, the part of said second cylinder adjacent said fourth cylinderincluding a coarse screen adapted to permit grain and air to pass freelytherethrough, grain, outside air and heated vapor inlets in the inletend of said first cylinder, each said shafts having thereon bladesadapted to assist said fan to stir and move the air, heated vapor andgrain toward the outlets, said second cylinder screen and the blades onthe second cylinder shaft being adapted to cause all of the grain tomove into said fourth cylinder through the second cylinder screen, anoutside cool air inlet into the inlet end of said fourth cylinder,whereby the relatively cool entering air will be mixed with and cool thegrain as it passes from the second cylinder into said fourth cylinder,whereby the grain is first warmed and dehydrated and then cooled anddehydrated.

6. A device as recited in claim 5 including, a duct forming an operatingconnection between said fan inlet and said third cylinder adjacent thedischarge end of said first cylinder and having. a valve for regulatingthe volume of air and heated vapor permitted to pass therethrough.

7. A device as recited in claim 5 including, a

valve in the heated vapor inlet to said first cyl-- inder adapted toregulate the volume of heated vapor permitted to pass into the firstcylinder.

8. Means for dehydrating grain in two stages serially, comprising incombination, a first and second cylinder, a passageway between theoutlet end of said first cylinder and the inlet end of the said secondcylinder, heated vapor and grain inlets in the other end of said firstcylinder, an exhaust fan having an air inlet connection from the otherend of said second cylinder, shafts rotatably mounted in said first andsecond cylinders, means for driving said shafts and fan, a thirdcylinder surrounding said second cylinder, a multiplicity of louvres insaid second cylinder, forming grain outlets into said third cylinder,and air passageways from said third cylinder into the second cylinder, agrain outlet in said third cylinder, an outside air inlet in said thirdcylinder adjacent said first passageway, a number of fan blades mountedon said first cylinder shaft adapted to agitate the grain and vapor, andurge them toward said first passageway, a number of fan blades securedto said second cylinder shaft, and adapted to agitate the vapor and urgethe vapor toward said fan inlet and urge the grain through the louvresinto said third cylinder, whereby the grain will be first contacted bythe heated vapor and dehydrated, and then cooledand dehydrated byoutside air. 1 v

CHARLES E. EVERETT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 426,361 Buttner et a1 Apr. 22,1890 517,479 Onderdonk Apr; 3, 1894 566,143 Cromwell et a1 Aug. 18, 1896629,384 Manns et al. July 25, 1899 713,859 Criswell Nov. 18, 1902891,468 Dougan June 23, 1908 937,172 Pearson Oct. 19, 1909 1,008,256Gnadt Nov. 7, 1911 1,658,775 Campbell Feb. 7, 1928 1,677,651 Noonan July17, 1928 2,160,253 Ryland May 30, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS Number CountryDate 224,111 Great Britain Nov. 6, 1924

